Does a 3.19 GPA have a chance at the UC's???

Applying to College
1

<p>Hi all, </p>

<p>I need expert advice. Here' the deal...UC GPA is 3.19 down from an overall weighted GPA of 3.6. Yuck.... too many c's and b's in "honor's" courses.</p>

<p>SAT = 1960 (640 CR, 630 M, 690 W)</p>

<p>SAT II= literature 600, US history, 650, math II scores not known yet (10/14).</p>

<p>-Several AP's ( 3 and 4 scores so far), two college classes with A's, lot's of Community service.
- Good EC's, Varsity and JV sports MVP despite physical handicap.</p>

<p>I've gone to a VERY academically California Catholic school. This GPA is KILLING me.</p>

<p>I 'm most interested in UCSB and UCSD. Do I have a prayer at these or any UC school?????</p>

<p>Any advice would be helpful. </p>

<p>Thanks!</p>

2

<p>Are you sure you calculated the UC GPA right? It shouldn't be that much lower than your overall weighted gpa. You can only count 8 semesters of weighted grades for the 2 years they count, but the max most people take is 10.</p>

<p>You would not have a chance at SB or SD with a 3.2, but you would at SB with a 3.6, it's below average there though.</p>

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<p>Yes, it is the correct UC GPA for the UC 10th and 11 th grades. The problem is we have a FULL religion course every semester that counts for NOTHING, except to inflate a worthless weighted GPA. Those classes do not count for electives either, so I only have one semester elective figured in there. I only had 6 semesters of point bumps, all of the honors classes counted for nothing....I screwed up and will end up where I belong, at a CC. Thanks for your reply though!</p>

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<p>Don't worry thumper, your SATI score is really good, UCSB would be a slight reach for you. But, UCR and UCM are almost guaranteed ins.</p>

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<p>a 3.19 is just too law for ucsb. ucsd is completely out of the question, as i believe its average gpa is well above a 4.0. your sat is solid. i would apply uc merced, uc riverside, and uc santa cruz. if you could get into santa cruz, it would offer you the beautiful beach location of ucsb and ucsd, while giving you a good shot at admission. if you get into ucsc, i would recommend that for you. i believe it is consistently voted one of the prettiest campuses in the country. also apply to uci, which is borers newport beach, ucsb and uc davis. you have a shot at getting into one of the mid tier uc's. i dont think i would waste the application fee's on top tier uc's though (UCSD, UCLA, UC Berkeley).</p>

<p>UCSD: Large Reach
UCSB/UCI/UCD: Reach-Slight Reach
UCSC/UCR/UCM: Slight Reach-Match</p>

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<p>Thumper- does your gpa include your 2 college classes? If not, its definitely good news for you-- your uc gpa will be higher.</p>

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<p>you can probably get into UC riverside and merced</p>

<p>UCSD is kinda impossible (i know someone that got into UCSD with your GPA, but it's very rare), but UCSB you still have a shot</p>

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<p>do you have a chance at the UC's? Absolutely -- if you meet the minimum qualifications they HAVE to take you. </p>

<p>But, unfortunately, the two schools you mention are highly selective, and the transcript is the #1 admissions criteria absent extenuating circumstances. Thus, you are more likely to find success the lower tiers UCs, particularly Riverside and Merced. But, if you have the cash, and your essay is excellent, the others will give you a serious review.</p>

<p>Good luck.</p>

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<p>Hey, Hey, </p>

<p>You are all so nice to give me your input...it is much appreciated! Santa Cruz is a great idea, so is Irvine, so I'll add them to the mix. I'll take out UCSD and still give UCSB the long shot too. Maybe they'll like my physical disability. (LOL)</p>

<p>Also...OCmom....I DID NOT count my two college courses, advanced robotics and sociology, into my UC GPA (both A's), and I am short of electives because of all the religion. My counselor at school told me that UC would not use them for my high school UC GPA even though they were both taken in 11th grade school year and summer. She said they would only count toward my COLLEGE GPA. Is she wrong? I hope so.... let me know if you know something I don’t. </p>

<p>P.S. I hate my H.S.</p>

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<p>don't take SD out, even though it's a long shot it doesn't hurt to try</p>

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<p>thumper:</p>

<p>UCB/UCLA: Super Reach
UCSD: Reach
UCI/UCD/UCSB: Slight Reach
UCSC/UCR/UCM: Match</p>

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<p>thumper:</p>

<p>if $60 won't hurt the wallet too much, might as well send the app to SD. It's a long shot, but you gotta play to win.</p>

<p>Your GC is incorrect. The UCs DO count college classes in the UC gpa for admissions purposes, particuarly if the class is IGETC tranferable. Dunno about Robotics, but a typical Soc class should be transferable. Look it up under your juco website. But, if transferable, the UCs will only add the class(es) to the UC transcript for credit, similar to a 'pass' -- they will not factor the juco grade into the UC college transcript grade.</p>

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<p>Thanks boy, flopsy, and bluebayou....</p>

<p>The sociology class was a “UC approved course” Soc 001, transferable to UC. It was only three units, but I earned an A. You are correct the Robotics is not. </p>

<p>So…….. how would I factor this into the UC GPA? Four or five points? I'm assuming one semester...would I factor it in with the g elective one semester I already have? Does it have to be on my HS transcript (they won’t do it) or should I just have the College send the Soc. Transcript? </p>

<p>Sorry for so many questions, but I'm grasping at straws here…….
and my GC scares me. A lot.</p>

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<p>Am I missing something? Don't you still apply to the "University of California" and then indicate on the application which campus you would prefer? At least <em>cough</em> years ago when I was applying as an undergrad that's how it worked. So, you get to apply to all of them at once, and the only choice you have is which one is your top pick. Unless things have changed since the dinosaurs, which is entirely possible...</p>

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<p>Oh no Rick Tyler...its still the same way....I'm just trying to decide which ones to check off ( choose)on the application. I'm thinking I won't get into my tops because my GPA is so low.</p>

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<p>Thumper- Bluebayou is right, your GC is wrong and your situation is better as a result. UCs are publishing the number of semesters of ap/certified honorsclasses/college courses by campus for admittants (courses taken in grades 10-12). You can get the info on each site. It ranges from 8-20+ courses on the average by campus. Not all honors courses count-- only those approved on your school's a-g UC course list as UC certified honors. I believe that UCSD was averaging 14 semesters for admittees, UCLA and Cal were over 20. </p>

<p>Each UC has a different admit "formula" so you should apply to 4-5 to maximize your chances. I would suggest that you should also apply to a few Cal States, or if you can afford it, private schools where your stats are at least at the average. Seach online for the "love your safety" thread-- its so important for you to have a school on your list that is a sure thing for your stats. Some examples: LMU, USD, CSULB, SDSU. UCI, UCSB and Davis are underrated in their image and if you talk to kids who go there as we have, you will find in reality that students are happy. </p>

<p>UCI seems to be a whole lot better than its h.s. reputation. Great apts., dorms, near ocean, greek houses clumped together and look like condos. Some students we know work at Disneyland in the parade or as characters. </p>

<p>For UCSD, you can calculate your points on their formula, which was on the website last year. It included points for gpa, sat I and IIs, # honors/ap/college level courses taken, # uc-approved courses taken, community service, awards, leadership, economic background, 1st gen college, life challenges. It is not simply based on numbers. Also, sr year course difficulty. If you can't find it, let me know and I can give you what we had last year. </p>

<p>The UC app has its own way of entering courses in, and it doesn't matter what your school puts on your transcript. When you fill out your UC appl online, it asks for all courses taken 9-12, foreign language or algebra if taken in 7th or 8th grade, and including the summer prior to sr yr. When you enter the college class in, it gives 2 semester grades for each one. (My d's h.s. counted each college class for 2 semesters of weighted high school course.) Thats why I think they count in the admissions review gpa. Why else would the application software put two grades in? I understand that it needs to be a UC-transferable course, which you can check on the ASSIST.org website. </p>

<p>One last note-your AP scores will help too. Plan on taking your ap tests this year too-- it asks about that on the UC app also. You will be glad when you get to college.</p>

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<p>Thanks OCmom,</p>

<p>That's very helpful information! Hopefully it will help me if I can count my college 'A'.
PS I don't really hate my GC, it's just that I'm very confused and mad at myself for not ignoring my schools weighted GPA. What a bummer....</p>

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<p>It's amazing how much interest has started to grow in UCSD. It makes me gleam inside!</p>